Man Cave, page 17
Mallory was not getting divorced. I shook my head.
“Child custody hearing?”
“Definitely not.”
She shrugged. “The only other thing I can think of is getting arrested.”
“That’s–” Arrested? Mallory? There was no way she’d be that impulsive or reckless or crazy to do something that had her thrown in jail.
No, she totally was.
“Holy fuck.”
“Um…”
I took the stethoscope from around my neck and set it on my desk. I went over to Verna, set a hand on her arm. “There’s no one dying, right?”
She frowned. “Um… no.”
“Good. I have to go.”
46
MALLORY
* * *
When I saw Theo’s text, that he knew I was in Las Vegas and why, I showed it to Annie and Trixie. I had a box of tissues in hand, and I had barely stopped crying in hours. They’d laughed and told me not to worry, that if I didn’t have a gag reflex and did yoga, Theo wouldn’t be done with me.
From their perspective, it made sense. The men they spent time with found both of those things as important job requirements. I didn’t want Theo to be a customer and with Mrs. Jonsdottir’s house in my name, he couldn’t be anything else.
I wasn’t sure what I was more panicked and upset about. Being found guilty for solicitation or feeling like I was paid for sex by Theo. God, if the judge only knew that a man bought me a house for services rendered, I’d be found guilty.
That was why I had to give the house back. When Trixie arrived with bags of carry out, I explained what I had to do. The women weren’t so sure, because why would a woman turn down a house? It was protection. A place to live where no one could take away.
It was exactly what I always wanted. Not just that specific house, but a place of my own. Where Maggie wouldn’t be choosing Nate over me. Where I never came in last.
But Theo gave it to me just like I gave my mother the money for the utility bill. I was struggling and he took care of the problem. But what about the next time when my car needed new tires? Would he pay for that, too? Was I just someone he pitied? I specifically told him that night in the restaurant parking lot that I didn’t want pity sex. I would not be a charity case like my mother, always assuming others would solve her financial problems.
Where she used my need for attention and affection as a weapon, offering it sparingly and strategically.
Theo gave me affection, at least in the form of sex. Sparingly. Strategically, as in at six o’clock. His sex hour.
I would not try to get scrapes of affection from Theo that would never come. Well, it seemed I’d tried for them, but it had never come. Only a house. A house was not an indication of any kind of feeling on his part. Annie and Trixie could confirm that.
The other proof? We barely kissed!
I told the ladies as much and they must have recognized how serious I was, how important to me getting rid of that house meant, so they got their lawyer on the phone in a total speed dial move. The pertinent details were shared and within the hour, Annalynn, their ever efficient lawyer, arrived with the paperwork for me to give the house back to Theo before we finished our dinner and first glasses of wine.
She couldn’t have been over thirty and dressed like she was on a legal drama on TV. Form-fitting, modest but bold dress and killer heels. Simple makeup and a personality of a diplomatic shark.
I learned the plat and other fancy information about the house was public record, so all I had to do was sit at Annie’s fancy kitchen counter and sign the document. Annalynn even notarized it.
She tucked the paper in an express mail envelope.
“That’s it?” I asked, watching her in awe as it was sealed shut.
“Quit claim deeds are simple,” she explained. “You’re signing the deed of ownership over to someone else. Usually it’s to a family member, but it works in a case like yours. No money’s changing hands, just the property itself.”
She smiled and I had to wonder what shade lipstick she used. She lifted the envelope. “This will be at the courthouse in Hunter Valley tomorrow morning and the deed recorded by lunch.”
Before I even returned home, the house would belong to Theo. Just like that.
I blinked. “Wow. Um… thanks.”
She eyed me with a soft smile. “You must really love this guy.”
I blinked my still-swollen eyes in her direction. “I don’t love him.”
The corner of her mouth tipped up. “I’ve dealt with plenty of divorces. No woman would return a house to a man if she hated him.”
Trixie nodded, tipped her glass of wine at Annalynn. “That’s true.”
“There’s no marriage. No divorce. That makes no sense.”
“Neither does love, honey. Neither does love.” Annalynn cocked her head to the side, studied me. “You okay?”
Was I okay? Hell, no. I laughed.
“I feel like I’ve got PMS times ten. Relieved, sad.” Because Theo didn’t care about me like I cared about him. “Worried.” Because maybe Annalynn was right. Maybe I was falling for him. “Panicked.” Not just because I might be off to jail, but my feelings for Theo? Holy sugar and spice. I did have feelings for him, but he had none for me in return. “Tired. And I’m pretty sure eating junk food in the car made my pants not fit.”
“You worry too much. If you could stay longer, we’d do a spa day,” Trixie offered.
“That sounds amazing, but I can’t. I have to be back at work. And that means I can’t be found guilty because I will lose my job and in a small town like Hunter Valley, I’ll be known as the Vegas hooker.” I looked to Annie and Trixie. “No offense.”
They laughed and Trixie said, “The judge is going to take one look at you and toss the case.”
I had no idea what that meant. I could look sophisticated and sexy, couldn’t I? I knew all about sex now, thanks to Theo and I gave house-buying worthy BJs.
Maybe it was my sloppy hair and coffee stained Hunter Valley Elementary hoodie I had on.
“Like Trixie said, the charges against you will be dropped,” Annalynn promised.
And they were. Annalynn was a pro–no pun intended–at handling my court appearance and the next morning the whole thing was over within ten minutes. The judge threw out my case because there was no probable cause. She also took in my outfit, heard about my residence in Montana and my job as a first-grade teacher and she actually rolled her eyes. She dropped the gavel, and it was over.
I turned to Annie and Trixie, who were seated in the long benches behind me, the entire courtroom looking just like on TV. Annie winked and offered a thumbs up while Trixie only grinned. I was practically shaking in relief.
Annie’s and Trixie’s hearings followed soon after mine and they, too, were cleared, although they both were given fines. Based on Annie’s fancy house and the way they barely blinked at the sum announced by the judge, the amount wasn’t an issue. Maybe they could expense it on her tax returns.
As for me, I was thrilled to be back to being only a boring first-grade teacher without a record, able to get my bail back to give to Bridge for the plane ticket.
We walked out of the courthouse free women, and I had to admit, their easy joy was infectious. I’d been so anxious about the whole thing, and it felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders.
“Come on, let’s get some lunch before you go,” Annie offered. “We never really got a chance to hear about the–”
“Theo,” I gasped. People coming out of the courthouse had to part to walk around us because I froze mid-step. There, standing ten feet in front of me was the man himself.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to run away or run into his arms.
I chose running away.
47
THEO
* * *
I was prepared for Mallory to be surprised at seeing me but taking off like a sprinter in the Olympic hundred-meter dash was a surprise. Since she wasn’t a professional athlete and was wearing heels, she didn’t get very far before I caught up with her.
With one hand hooked about her waist, I stopped her. The hot Vegas sun beat down on us and I was sweating.
“Easy, tiger,” I murmured in her ear. I felt her ragged breathing, the shaking. She was nervous. Afraid. When her eyes met mine, I realized she wasn’t afraid. She was mad.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed. Her cheeks were flushed but not from the sun.
She just stared at me, more like gave me a death glare.
“To see you. What are you doing here?” I countered.
Her lips pinched together so tightly. It was clear she had no intention of responding.
“This must be Theo.” The three women who came out of the courthouse with Mallory approached. It was the redhead who spoke.
Her gaze was laser sharp and scanned my body in a way that hadn’t happened to me before. I had a feeling she’d cataloged my net worth, my body mass index and my dick size in two seconds.
What I picked up was she was stunningly beautiful and knew my name. That meant Mallory mentioned me.
I didn’t let go of Mallory as I shifted us to face her friends. “Yes. And you are?”
Maybe I could glean some information out of them.
“I’m Annie.” She set her hand on her bountiful breasts that even a conservative white blouse couldn’t disguise. The strategic motion was to drive my eyes to her assets in a subtle but very direct way. “This is Trixie and Annalynn.”
I nodded. “Ladies.”
“Everything makes sense now, Mal,” the blonde introduced as Trixie said. She was also exquisitely pretty. Tall and slim. Elegant. Their clothes were expensive and everything about them screamed high-class.
The third, Annalynn, nodded in agreement. There was no question she was a lawyer. It was as if her profession was stamped on her forehead. From her conservative and very business-like attire to the way she held herself. She also carried a briefcase. I didn’t know anyone else who used one–and James Corp had a slew of lawyers in house and on retainer.
“What makes sense?” I asked.
“Nothing,” Mallory replied, giving the women an imploring look.
“Are you her friends from the bachelorette party?” If I had to pull answers from them like a dentist pulled teeth, I would. “Which one of you is getting married?” I asked.
Annie looked to Trixie. Trixie looked at Annie. They laughed.
So not her college friends.
“How did your court appearance go?” I prodded, hoping that the other women would think I knew what was going on. Which I sure as hell didn’t.
“Your girlfriend’s case was dropped. She no longer needs to change her profession, but from what I heard” –Trixie looked down my body and blue eyes stopped squarely on my crotch– “she’s a natural.”
I frowned and shifted Mallory in front of me–I hadn’t let go of her waist–to block the woman from imagining what my dick looked like.
“Natural?”
“Call girl,” Annie said with a throaty laugh. “Didn’t you know? Your girl Mallory is a professional call girl.”
Mallory? Mallory Mornay? The goofy first-grade teacher? The one with the duck socks, had a body made for sin, who fucked like a porn star and gave head like–
A professional call girl.
What. The. Actual. Fuck?
48
MALLORY
* * *
“I am not a call girl,” I said, stating it loudly and plainly. Too loudly since a few heads turned in our direction.
That statement was for Annie, who was messing everything up, to her amusement. And that of Annalynn and Trixie as well.
One glance at Theo and it seemed he might be doubting me. I flushed hotly remembering what I did to him have him think twice.
“We are,” Trixie said proudly, pointing between Annie and herself.
Inwardly, I groaned. It seemed women who bared their bodies for work had no issue with baring their secrets either.
“Yes, I got pointers when we were in the holding cell,” I admitted, then bit my lip. I’d said too much.
Annie all but preened.
“Holding cell?” Theo asked, eyes going wide. “You were arrested?”
I rolled mine.
Trixie huffed out a laugh. “I can see you two don’t do much talking.” Then she eyed Theo like she would a chocolate cake. “Not that I blame you.”
Annie nodded. “Why waste time talking when you can do other things?”
“Ladies, I have another appointment. Good luck, Mallory,” Annalynn said, holding out her hand. I shook it. “Call me if you need help with another arrest… or other paperwork.”
“I think I’m a one-and-done client, but thanks.” I knew my cheeks were on fire. This was not going well. Not at all.
Theo turned me toward him as Annalynn disappeared back inside the building. “Arrest? Holding cell? Call girl?”
I swallowed, closed my eyes briefly, then tugged up my big girl panties.
“Yes. I was arrested for solicitation.”
Theo laughed. Head tipped back, deep and long.
The fuc–flipping jerk.
“Why are you laughing?” I asked, angry all over again.
He actually wiped his eye. “You? Solicitation? A hooker?”
Annie and Trixie stepped back once, then again, as if they knew the kraken was about to be unleashed.
The kraken was me.
I crossed my arms over my chest and narrowed my eyes.
“You’re the one that died for a minute when I had your dick down my throat and a finger in your ass.” I lowered my voice so I didn’t announce it to everyone in front of the building, but Annie and Trixie heard.
Theo’s jaw clenched and his cheeks flushed.
“You did the finger trick?” Annie asked, tapping Trixie on the arm and they nodded at each other. “I told you it would go over well. That’s my girl.”
For the first time in… forever, I was proud of myself.
I stepped closer and poked Theo in the chest. “Why is it that a Las Vegas call girl believes in me more than you?”
His mouth fell open, then he snapped it shut. He was quiet for a moment as he studied me, then turned to Annie. “She’s got the perfect mix of sweet and pure sin, doesn’t she? I’m sure a call girl with that personality would be a hit.”
Annie and Trixie nodded in unison.
“I speak for my dick when I personally thank you for sharing your tips with Mallory.”
“Oh my go–sh,” Mallory said, slapping her hands over her face, as if that was going to make her disappear.
“I assume since you’re not in custody that the charges were dropped?”
“Yes,” I said into my fingers.
He nodded. “Good. We need to go. The plane is waiting for us to return to Hunter Valley.”
I dropped my hands and stared at Theo. Of course he took his plane to get here.
“You came to give me a ride back to Hunter Valley.”
He nodded.
That was the reason he was here. A ride. Maybe it was generosity, or chivalry. But it wasn’t concern. Or worry. He didn’t care about me, only that I got back safe. It was the doctor in him. Right?
“Plane?” Annie asked. “Mal, you hit the jackpot on the first pull.”
“I’m driving back,” I told Theo.
He shook his head as if I was crazy. No one turned down a private plane for a thirteen-hour car ride. “I have the plane.”
“The plane,” Annie repeated, nudging Trixie.
“I have my car here. I can’t leave it here. I have to drive it back.” And I didn’t want to take anything else from him.
Theo considered something, then nodded. “Looks like it’ll be a road trip then.”
Um… what?
49
THEO
* * *
We were an hour outside of Vegas in a remote section of Nevada that looked like a sandbox. Dusty brown hills. Not a spec of water or greenery, except for small patches around popup motels or fast food restaurants clustered at the highway exits.
I stood in front of a clump of this greenery, squinting against the bright sun at a random palm tree. Mallory had made me pull into a truckstop so she could change out of the dress clothes she wore to court, to grab snacks and take a bathroom break. She was inside now choosing processed snacks loaded with salt and hydrogenated palm oil while I baked in the hot sun. I’d planned to be in Vegas long enough to grab Mallory. Back and forth from Montana in a few hours. I wasn’t even dressed right for the hot weather.
“You’ve never been on a road trip before, have you?”
I spun around at Mallory’s voice, took in the food she hugged against her body. Chips. Candy. Drinks. “That stuff is going to kill you.”
She glanced down at the stash, then back at me. She wore sunglasses, so her pale eyes were hidden. “Yeah, no road trip for you. Snacks are a requirement. How old are you? Forty?”
I gave her a steely look. “Thirty-six.”
She paused, studied me. “You seem much older.”
“Thirty-six,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Well, I can’t believe you made it this long without one.”
“I have a plane.”
“Right.” She reached out and handed me sunglasses I hadn’t noticed since her arms were so full. “Here.”
I took them automatically. “What are these for?”
“We’re in the desert. It’s bright. You’re driving.” She shook her head. “How did you get through medical school again?”
The shades were a cheap truckstop throwback to the eighties. Thick plastic frames. In electric blue.
I put them on. Fuck, that was better.
She pinched her lips together to hide a smile. I had no doubt I looked like an idiot. Being in the middle of that desert she mentioned, I didn’t really give a shit. “Lookin’ good.”
